Kukla's Korner Hockey

- Sam Gagner: He was not eligible for a no-trade clause when he signed his three-year extension last summer (It kicks-in next season). Craig MacTavish graciously promised to honour it this season, but as Edmonton searches for answers, it sounds like both sides believe it is time for a change, not that anyone is commenting. Should a deal happen, no doubt MacTavish will try to make it a soft landing.

- As the Michael Del Zotto saga crawls towards its conclusion, wonder if San Jose is a "stealth" team in all of this. Last year, the Sharks scouted him pretty closely as the two teams talked trade (Ryane Clowe was eventually dealt to Manhattan). Couldn't hurt for a young defenceman to learn under Larry Robinson.

- At the first Alumni Game in Detroit, Scotty Bowman sent out 74-year-old Red Berenson, who tied up his man to win a last-second faceoff and preserve victory. At speaking events, Bowman tells a great story about Berenson, who played for him in St. Louis. The player was struggling one season, so the coach called him into his office. After a debate about how things were going, Berenson said he felt he brought a lot of leadership and was a fixture on the team. Bowman replied, "Red, the only fixtures here are the lightbulbs, and when they're broken, we change them."